Only after a meticulous body search did Hong Yi enter the examination hall, where he saw several ancient sage-scholars enshrined in the very center.
I have forty red gold coins on me, plus more than ten gold coins taken from that Daoist. Red gold exchanges at fifteen to one, so forty coins make six hundred taels of silver, plus the gold coins. Besides that, I have four hundred and fifty-six taels in loose silver ingots—enough to buy a house and a few plots of land. With my juren status, there will still be plenty left over. I can live very well from now on.
Hong Yi had long been prepared. He immediately returned to his body, and his soul was spared injury.
By the time he had put everything in order, dawn was already faintly breaking. Only then did Hong Yi rise, place the three examination necessities—brush, ink, and inkstone—into the bamboo basket he had prepared, and leave without calling for any maidservants.
Those poor scholar-candidates who had come in from the surrounding countryside carried baskets, while the wealthy ones rode in carriages. Some scholars fond of martial airs simply rode horses, looking immensely pleased with themselves.
The rain had fallen for a full two days and two nights before finally stopping, soaking the dry earth through and through.
Ancient sages and great scholars possess this sort of bearing. Buddhist Buddhas possess another kind altogether. I wonder what sort of bearing a Daoist patriarch would have? One day, I should visit a Daoist temple and study it properly.
"Indestructible."
Hong Yi walked over as well and ordered a bowl of beef noodles, eating them slowly. Only when the crowd in the square had gradually thinned, and everyone had lined up for inspection and body searches before entering the examination hall,